Filing case



April 27, 1954 L, w, BELEW 2,676,861

FILING CASE AF'iled Feb. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS MMM/@WW April 27, 1954 W BELEW 2,676,861

FILING CASE Filed Feb. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented A'pr. 27, 1954 FILING CASE Leland W. Belew, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to Herring-Hall-Marvin, Hamilton, Ohio, a, corporation of Ohio Application February 19, 1951, Serial No. 211,703

7 Claims.

This invention relates to filing cabinets and more particulariy to a transfer case for the Vstorage of inactive records.

In the filing of records, inactive files of records which are not current continually accumulate. These records usually must be kept for rather extended periods before they can be destroyed, and, consequently occupy a large amount of space. Space for storage of these records is not available in the active ling cabinets nor is it desirable to have a large mass of inactive records cluttering up the active files. It has been the usual procedure to pack these inactive records in storage boxes for extended periods, and the records periodically removed from the boxes destroyed. However, once the records are packed in storage boxes, they are so dihicult to find in the boxes that the stored records are of little value.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sturdy rigid transfer case which will interlock with similar cases for the orderly stacking of cases in alignment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sturdy transfer case in which the stored records are easily available.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transfer case having novel and highly improved positive interlocking means enabling the very satisfactory stacking and connecting side to side or back to back of a plurality of cases as a rigid unit.

With these and other objects in mind which will become apparent in the following detailed description of the invention, this invention resides in the novel means for interlocking a transfer case with others in top to bottom, side to side and back to back relationship so as to form an orderly, positively interlocked stack of transfer cases.

In the drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of a transfer case forming a part of the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View thereof taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary central vertical longitudinal sectional View of a plurality of transfer cases stacked in top to bottom yand back to back relationship;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an interlocking button forming a part of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a transfer case showing the button in operative position therein;

( Cl. S12- 111) Figure 6 is a perspective View of a plurality of filing or transfer cases each mounted on a base section and all interlocked in side to side, top to bottom and back to back relationship;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the use of the buttons and a tie link in interlocking the transfer cases;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view thereof; and

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the tie-link forming a part of the present invention.

As is best showin in Figures 1-3 inclusive, a transfer case indicated generally by numeral II comprises a generally box-likev structure having a top I2 and a bottom I3. The side walls I4 of the case II extend between the top I2 and the bottom I3 of the case. The back of the case II is closed by a panel I 5 which ts snugly within the opening outlined by the walls of the case. The top I2 and the bottom I3 are flanged at I6 and il, respectively, to support the side walls I4 and thereby increase the rigidity of the transfer case. lIhe flanges I6 and Il also provide surfaces overlapping the side walls I4 for spot welding thereto.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the back panel i5 which is flanged at I8 along all of its edges for welding to the top I2, bottom I3, and side walls I4 of the case II. The top flange portion is extended upwardly and forwardly as at I9 for a purpose to be described. The width of the flange I9 is somewhat less than that of theY recess formed by the anged back panel I5 (Figure 2) so as to permit the fiange of one transfer case to be inserted in the recess of another to be stacked thereupon, the spacing of the flange I9 from the top I2 being sufficient to permit this as shown in Figure 3.

A rod 2E] ts within the opening 2l at the front end of the transfer case Il,V extends completely around the opening, and presses lightly against the walls of the case. The front edges of the top I2, bottom I3, and side walls I4 are then rolled inwardly ovei` the rod 2Q to form a smooth inner surface 22, illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, of opening 2 I.

A pair of openings 24 are provided in the top I2 near the front while in a corresponding location in the bottom I 3 are a pair of lugs or locators 26 projecting downwardly therefrom. These locators are preferably large rivets also intended to provide bearing surfaces for sliding the case. The smoothly curved lower surface of the lugs 26 minimize scoring of the cases as they are stacked.

When the transfer cases are stacked, the upper case is moved into position on a lower case and slid rearwardly therealong until the flange I9 of the lower case enters the recess in the back panel I5 of the upper case, .As the edge of the flange I8 of the upper case engages the back wall of the flange I9 of the lower case, the locators 26 of the upper case will drop into the openings 24 of the lower case.

The two cases are thus interlocked laterally and vertically as it is readily apparent that the recess in the back panel I5 and the engagement of the locator lugs 25 in the openings 24 prevent lateral movement while the flange I9 prevents the forward tilting of the case when a loaded drawer 28 (indicated in dash lines, Figure l) is pulled out.

The tops I2 of the transfer cases II have four special T-shaped slots 30 extending through the sides I4 adjacent each corner and are intended to receive an interlock button 32 which comprises essentially, a double headed rivet. In the side to side stacking of transfer cases, one head engages the slot in one case while the other head engages the adjacent slot in the adjoining case.

It will be noted that the lower part of the T- slots are so positioned that two thicknesses of metal-the sides I4 and the anges .I- are adjacent thereto thus ensuring adequate strength in securing the cases together. The interlock buttons 32 are primarily held in place in the T- slots by gravity but are also retained by the bottom of any case placed thereabove.

As seen in Figures 7-9 inclusive, a tie-link 3d is provided for securing the transfer case in back to back relationship. The tie-link comprises a flat bar having an open slot 3% formed in its bottom edge adjacent each end and a lateral projection 38 directly above each slot and projecting at a 90 angle from the plane of the bar 34.

The slotted ends of the tie-link are inserted between adjacent cases of back to back le banks and are of such length as to engage the shanks of the interlock buttons 32 to positively secure the back to back cases in this relationship. When the tie-link 34 is thus positioned, the upper surface of the projections 33 lie substantially in the same plane as the tops of the cases connected by the tie-link. The projections also lie over and close two of the T-slots.

Thus the projections 38 serve a dual purpose. The transfer case placed directly above rests against the top surface of the projection 33 thereby holding the tie-link 34 in operative or case connecting position. Moreover, the projection, as stated, partially closes the T-slot and in so doing, cooperates to perform the end function of the tie-link, that of arresting all horizontal forces that would tend to change the relative positions of the transfer cases so connected.

It will be noted that the cases are mounted on base units 40 and the above described interlocking features of the cases are also present in the bases including the flange I9, the openings or aperatures 24 and the T-slots 30. Thus, the described invention provides a positive and practicable means for interlocking adjacent transfer -cases to form a substantially rigid ling cabinet unit.

While the transfer case interlocking means comprising this invention has been `described. in detail in relation to specific forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the concept of this invention is not limited to those specic forms, but is limited only by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A transfer nle assembly, including a series of cases respectively adapted to be interlocked with similar cases in top to bottom, side to side and back to back relationship, each case comprising a generally boxlike structure having a closed recessed back end, a flange projecting above and forwardly from 'sa-id end, a pair of spaced apertures formed in the front ofthe top of said structure, and a pair of correspondingly placed lugs depending from the bottom of said structure; a T-shaped slot formed in the tops and sides of said structure adjacent each corner, a double headed rivet having its shank extending between and connecting the slots of adjacent laterally displaced cases, and a tie bar extending transversely across and connecting the Shanks of respective rivets of back to back cases whereby the cases are positively constrained against relative vertical, lateral or end to end movement.

2. A structure as set forth in claim l, wherein the tie-bar includes a pair of spaced lateral projections lying substantially in the plane of the top `of the structure, overlying respective rivets and closing the corresponding pair of slots.

3. A transfer nie assembly, including a series of cases respectively adapted to be interlocked with similar cases in side to side and back to back relationship, each case comprising a generally boxlike structure, a T-shaped slot formed in the top and sides of said structure adjacent each corner, a double headed rivet having its shank extending between and connecting 'the slots of adjacent cases, and preventing lateral movement between said cases, and a tie bar extending transversely across and connecting the shanks of respective rivets of back to back cases to prevent relative longitudinal movement between adjacent cases.

4. A transfer lile assembly, iincluding a series of cases respectively adapted to be interlocked with similar cases in back to back relationship, each case comprising a generally boxlike structure, a T-shaped slot formed in the joining edges of the top and sides of said structure adjacent the back corners, a double headed rivet slidably retained in and projecting from said slots, and a tie bar extending transversely across and connecting the shanks of the rivets disposed in the slots of adjacent cases, to prevent relative movement between the cases.

5. A transfer le assembly, including a series of cases respectively adapted to be interlocked with similar cases in top to bottom and back to back relationship, each case comprising a generally box-like structure, a flange projecting above and forwardly from one end thereof, a pair of spaced apertures formed in the top of said structure, a pair of correspondingly placed lugs depending from the bottom of said structure, the lugs and end edges of each superposed case cooperating respectively with the apertures and flanges of each bottom case to prevent lateral and vertical movement of the superposed cases, a T-shaped slot formed in the joining edges of the top and sides of said structure adjacent the back corners, a double headed rivet slidably retained in and projecting from said slots, and a tie bar extending transversely across and connecting the shanks of the rivets disposed in the slots of adjacent cases, to prevent relative movement between the back to back cases.

6. In a transfer file assembly including a series of similar transfer cases stacked in top to bottom, side to side and back to back relationship, each case being provided adjacent each of its upper corners, with a vertically disposed T-slot formed jointly in its top andrside walls, an interlocking device for the adjacent corners of respective cases, comprising a pair of connecting rivets, each having two identical heads secured in spaced relation by a relatively short, intervening shank, the Shanks and spaced 'heads of said rivets being received by opposed T,slots of side to side cases, to maintain the sideto side relationship and a tie bar extending transversely between back to back cases and connecting the shanks of adjacent pairs of rivets, to maintain the back to back relationship.

7. An interlocking assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tie bar includes a pair of spaced lateral projections lying substantially in the plane of the top of the structure-j' overlying respective rivets and closing the corresponding pairs of slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Lehmann Sept. 29, 1891 Conrad Jan. 11, 1910 Morris Feb. 9, 1915 Claus Feb. 24, 1920 Sandmann May 18, 1920 Ulrich Aug. 2, 1921 Jamison Apr. 3, 1923 Chandler Oct. 9, 1928 Du Plessis Nov. 5, 1929 Scheinman Mar. 24, 1942 Kump July 16, 1946 Butler Dec. 9, 1947 

